Survive in Azure Files

"No, no, it doesn't seem like I need to do anything about it!"

The next moment, Shizuko pinched her throat again and showed a perfect business smile: "Hate, hate~ Shizuko is a kind-hearted poster girl~!"

However, isn’t it a bit too late to think about maintaining one’s own image now?

Shizuka herself naturally realized this, from the awkward and silent atmosphere and the strange gazes of everyone present.

“…Ahhh, really!” So, the poster girl chose to abandon her idol image and shouted in self-abandonment, “Anyway! Let’s find the mastermind behind this!”

Everyone looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

So, after that, Shizuko and I, along with the girls from the training club, returned to Hyakuya Hall and started a strategy meeting with the goal of finding out the true identity of "that adult".

Chapter 76 It Must Have Been the Smiling Professor's Doing

After the sun sets, with the goal of protecting the smiles on everyone's faces and protecting the Sakura Festival from being destroyed, the people who fight against the problem children of Chimeizu and their masterminds gather in Hyakuya Hall to discuss plans.

"So what should we do about the man behind this?"

asked the elegant Yamato Nadeshiko Mimori.

"There is a most practical method. First, go to the street, then find the evil spirits, and then surround them in one go."

Shizuko, the poster girl of Hyakuya Hall, perfected her previous proposal: "Although it is a large-scale operation that cannot be achieved by the festival operation committee alone, it is possible now that the training department is also here!"

The famous Sleeping Beauty Tsubaki of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons gently raised doubts: "Surround them~ What should we do next...?"

"Of course we have to defeat them all at once! Then we have to arrest everyone! Then we just have to make them tell us who the culprit is and that'll be it!"

Shizuko said as a matter of course, and then said with a determined look: "If necessary, I will use extreme means!"

"As expected of you, Chairman! Cut off the little fingers of those evildoers!"

Target Renxia, ​​Fina added.

"Wait a minute! You are still students! How can you use such extreme means!"

The president of the shopping street, Nyanko Tenmaru, who appeared here for some unknown reason, excitedly slammed the table and stood up.

The rest of the participants also had indescribable expressions on their faces.

Even Fina herself asked hesitantly, "Well...if I think about it carefully, Fina also thinks that this is a bit too radical, Chairman..."

"Why do you say it as if it was my proposal!?"

At this time, Miao Tianwan interrupted with a bad look on his face: "I am talking to you, I took time out of my busy schedule to come here because I received complaints from many businesses. I don't have time to listen to such an unfeasible plan!"

According to Meow Tenmaru, the behavior of Chi Mei Yi Zuo has caused economic losses to the merchants who have made careful preparations for the Sakura Festival. Therefore, as the president of the shopping street, he visited again, just to urge Shizuko and others who are responsible for the operation of the festival to solve the problem as soon as possible.

Jingzi looked a little embarrassed, but suddenly she thought of something and asked hurriedly, "President, from what you said, do you have a better idea?"

"This……"

Miao Tianwan stroked his long white beard and pondered for a long time without being able to come up with a clear idea. However, he still firmly expressed his opposition:

"At least your plan is absolutely not feasible. Carrying out a large-scale battle on the street at night will disturb nearby residents."

This reason obviously cannot convince Shizuka.

The poster girl argued, "But, there is no other way now, right? The climax of the Sakura Festival is the day after tomorrow, and we must find the culprit before then. Even if it is as you said, we can only apologize to the affected residents afterwards."

Miao Tianwan frowned and stared at Shizuko: "Gu... Can you guarantee that the plan will work? Even if you succeed in catching those problem children, can you guarantee that you can get information from them? If you create a riot but still get nothing, the disturbed residents will not easily accept an apology!"

This seems quite unreasonable.

"So, that's it!" Shizuka spoke each word with pauses, but she couldn't hide her anxiety. "There's no time to dawdle now! President, you're such a conservative!"

"W-What? What's your attitude!?"

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

"Well," Tsubaki said worriedly at this moment, "if there are still people from the Demonic Element rioting during the fireworks display at the end of the festival, it won't be just a riot..."

Shizuko sighed and nodded gently: "If it really comes to that, our festival management committee will be held accountable..."

"…I understand the pressure you are under, and I am here to solve your problem. However, I also have my own stance."

Miao Tianwan's tone softened, and he advised kindly: "Calm down and think about it again. There must be a better way. At worst, it's not too late to execute it tomorrow. Also, as a student, you'd better not torture him to extract a confession..."

"This……"

Shizuka was obviously still hesitating.

At times like this, it's time for the hero to appear.

"About the identity of the mastermind."

I had been watching in silence from the sidelines until a while ago, but as soon as I opened my mouth, I attracted everyone's attention:

"In fact, I already have a guess. At least it can narrow down the scope to a certain extent."

"What?!" Miao Tianwan was so surprised that he accidentally pulled out a strand of his whiskers. Without even having time to cry out in pain, he anxiously said, "Do you have a guess? Well, then hurry up and tell me! Young people nowadays are really..."

"Even if I have a guess, I can't be 100% sure. Shizuko's method is still the simplest and most feasible."

Miao Tianwan said in a slightly cold tone: "I've told you before, that method is not reliable at all."

The difference between Shizuka and I is that I'm too lazy to say anything to stubborn, irrelevant people like Meow Tenmaru.

No matter how big a mess the demons make, the first ones to bear the brunt of the blame will only be the festival management committee. As the president of the shopping street, Meow Tenmaru will hardly suffer any losses, so it is natural for him to speak without any pain.

After all, Shizuka and the others were willing to let Meow Tenmaru participate in the meeting and consider Meow Tenmaru's opinions simply out of respect for him.

Putting this aside, who is Meow Tenmaru? What's the point of his opposition? Is it his turn to interfere in the decision-making of the festival operation committee?

It would be fine if they could really come up with some better and feasible methods, but blindly opposing this and that is really just taking advantage of the fact that these students of mine are kind-hearted.

In this regard, I did not take it seriously because of the feelings of Shizuko and Fina, whom I knew through Nyanko Tenmaru, but I did feel a lot of resentment towards him.

Most of the girls in the training club share the same view as me.

Not to mention the innocent Feng who was as innocent as a child, what Tsubaki said just now to ease the atmosphere actually revealed her personal emotional inclination.

As for Sansen, that's a no-brainer. Right? Honey?

My eyes met with the cherry-haired girl, and I wondered if she could read my thoughts at the moment.

and……

Is this guy's reason for opposing Shizuko's plan really exactly as he said?

I am skeptical about this.

This is also the reason why I did not join their debate before.

Anyway, I ignored Nyankawan's questioning and continued talking:

"Based on the current intelligence, the mastermind behind this has the following characteristics:

"First of all, it is the strong financial resources. He hired dozens or even more demons by himself. This is not a small amount that anyone can afford."

Miao Tianwan seemed to have quickly forgotten his previous unhappiness and nodded repeatedly: "Indeed, even as the president of the shopping street, I can't afford so much money!"

I continued to ignore this guy. "The second is a prominent reputation. Money alone may be enough to command a group of demons, but it is not enough to convince those unruly guys, who even remember to cheer during the battle, as if they are honored to be under his command."

"What?! There is such a thing?!" Miao Tianwan was shocked, and accidentally pulled out a whisker, gnashing his teeth in pain and gasping for air. "That's great! This way, the scope of suspicion is greatly narrowed!"

"Finally, the most crucial point." I looked around and said in a deep voice, "Obviously, this is not the first time that 'the adult' mentioned by Chimei Yizu has committed a crime. If it is true as Chimei Yizu said, then the real culprit behind the destruction of the Sakura Festival has committed more unknown crimes in secret."

"...Huh?" Miao Tianwan blinked, "Oh, oh! This is really... um... horrifying. You must bring the culprit to justice as soon as possible."

No, why does this guy have so much to say?

"So there are already so many clues?" Shizuka recalled and found that it was indeed the case. She couldn't help but show joy on her face, "In this way, the scope of suspicion can be narrowed down to a very small range!"

"But even if we confirm the identity of the mastermind, we may not be able to catch him." I had to give Shizuka a heads-up. "Besides, we can't rule out the possibility that the people in the Demon Sect are deliberately lying."

Miao Tianwan hurriedly said: "I think this is a completely feasible direction! As expected of Xia Lai's teacher, he is as wise as the rumors say!"

Even if you praise me like this, it's useless.

However, although I don't think it's like that at all, could it be that, as Shizuko and Fina said, Meow Tenmaru is actually just a stern and stubborn tsundere with a cold face but a warm heart...

That's honestly pretty disgusting.

Jingzi pondered for a moment, but followed my train of thought and came up with a new idea:

"What the president said is correct. No matter what, as long as we can confirm that the mastermind has enough criminal records and is even on the wanted list, even the Yin-Yang Department should have no excuse to stand idly by, right?"

And this hand?

This was indeed a blind spot in my thinking. I had been rejected by the Yin-Yang Department once, and I never thought that I could seek their assistance again.

Although there is still a possibility of rejection, it is worth a try if you have such a legitimate reason.

Shizuko put on a business-like smile and said to me sweetly: "This is all thanks to the teacher, thank you~"

"It's okay. I'm just doing what I should do. Well, without further ado, let's start speculating. I don't know much about the Hundred Demons Night Parade. Do you have any ideas?"

Shizuko nodded, then frowned and thought deeply: "Well, speaking of the famous criminals in the One Hundred Demons Night Parade..."

"Ah, I thought of it!"

Fina said excitedly, "If we talk about the most famous criminal in the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, it can only be that person, right?"

Then, Fina said in a mysterious tone, "He was wreaking havoc indiscriminately in Kivotos. He was as mysterious and terrifying as a ghost, and the Federal Student Union was terrified. It took the best of the best to successfully arrest him and send him to the Correction Bureau... but he managed to escape from prison not long ago!"

……Um?

From Fina's familiar description, I had a bad feeling.

The rest of the people present also understood.

And Fina finally stopped keeping the secret: "That's right! She is one of the seven prisoners, nicknamed the Fox of Disaster, Kitsunesaka Wakamo!"

With a bang,

Miao Tianwan slammed the table excitedly and said, "Yes! It must have been done by the Disaster Fox!"

Shizuko suddenly understood: "Yes, if it is that Kitsunesaka Wakamo, it makes perfect sense! Not only does she have the prestige to overwhelm all the demons, but she also has the same criminal record, and even her style of destroying everything can match up!"

Feng's eyes sparkled. "Oh! The legendary Fox of Disaster? That is indeed a terrible villain! Are we going to defeat such a being this time? So cool, it's just like a cartoon!"

Tsubaki tilted her head, confused, "But why did Kitsunesaka Wakamo want to ruin the festival?"

Shizuko thought for a moment: "Her previous actions were also motivated by mystery, right? Maybe she was just enjoying the pleasure of destruction!"

When everyone was talking about it and it was becoming more and more certain that Ruo Zao was a strong suspect, I, who had been unable to hold back from the beginning, silently put down my phone.

Just in case, I just contacted Ruozao directly on momotalk to confirm. Ruozao said it was not her. I am confident that Ruozao would never lie to me about such a thing.

However, even though this fact is known, what excuse should be used to deny this conjecture becomes a problem——

I can't just say directly that I have a close personal relationship with Kitsunesaka Wakamo, a well-known bad student in Kivotos, and she told me herself that she was not the mastermind behind the incident, right?

"Well, everyone. As far as I know, whenever the Disaster Fox takes action, he always leads the way and never just assigns others to do things."

The one who said this was not me, but Sansen.

I nodded implicitly to the cherry-haired girl and gave her a look of gratitude, but she seemed completely oblivious.

After this statement was made, everyone looked at each other, recalling the rumors about Ruozao, and found that it was just as Sansen said. In this way, although Ruozao's suspicion was not completely cleared, it had been greatly reduced.

"Besides the Disaster Fox...who else is there..."

Shizuko murmured, deep in thought.

Miao Tianwan looked around and saw that everyone was in deep thought. He cleared his throat and said in a deep voice: "Hmm... I think it is indeed the Disaster Fox, right? After being arrested and sent to the Correction Bureau, it is normal for him to change his style to be cautious!"

There is some truth in that, but who are you, old man, saying bad things about in front of me?

You look like you want to muddy the waters. I think you, Miao Tianwan, are the most suspicious one!

However, this is just a psychological activity caused by my dissatisfaction with Miao Tianwan.

In fact, I also know that a mere ordinary shopping street president, not to mention whether he has the financial resources to hire so many people, and not to mention whether he has any motives to destroy the Sakura Festival, at least, without any other hidden identity, it is impossible for him to be revered by bad students.

However, there is no way to rule out the possibility that Miao Tianwan has some unknown connection with the real mastermind behind the scenes.

“…I think I have an idea.”

At this time, Shizuko seemed to have thought of something and spoke slowly, "If we expand the scope to include not only those who were born in the Hundred Demons Night Parade, but also those who have committed crimes in the Hundred Demons Night Parade but cannot even confirm which school they attended or whether they were students... they do exist."

Shizuko paused for a moment, then continued, "He is even more mysterious than the Fox of Disaster. Even Kronos could not find out his true identity. He always hides behind the scenes when he takes action. He is known as the master of crime in Kivotos..."